Priceless legacy of Navy man

A CHARITY set up in memory of a Halesowen submariner has been working with Dudley Council to help young people.

A CHARITY set up in memory of a Halesowen submariner has been working with Dudley Council to help young people.

Paul McCann, aged 32, and comrade Anthony Huntrod, 20, were killed when an oxygen device exploded while HMS Tireless was in the Arctic last year.

The Paul McCann Fund for Needy Children was set up by his family and friends in his honour.

The charity provides support and aid to children in the UK and has been working closely with Dudley Council’s visually impaired service to offer gifts to young people in the borough.

In recent months the fund has donated more than £3,000, which has paid for a group of children from the visually impaired service to go on a day trip to Hatton Farm, Warwick, and a makeover session for school leavers.

Specialist speech software has also been bought for five-year-old Poppie Mai Hutchinson, from Wollaston, Stourbridge, and a holiday and an electronic hand-held magnifier for 16-year-old Charlotte Bowen, of Brierley Hill.

Paul’s parents said they hoped valuable lessons have been learned after an inquiry ruled his death was due to “systematic failings”.

Following the Ministry of Defence report into their son’s death, Brian and Pauline McCann said they believed an apology from armed forces minister Bob Ainsworth was genuine and the important thing now was to ensure the future safety of his colleagues.

The report detailed failures in the acquisition, manufacture, transport, storage, stowage and logistics management of the oxygen units.

Coun Liz Walker, Dudley’s cabinet member for children’s services, said: “Paul’s friends and family should be proud of what they have achieved here in Dudley as their donations have made a significant contribution to the lives of young people.

“It has been an honour for the council to work with the charity and we wish them well in future fund-raising events and we look forward to supporting them in the future.”

* To find out more details, or to donate, go to www.fundyfor needychildren.com.